Light Pillar Sets Sail in the U. S.

Greenwich Entertainment has taken on the job of bringing a new Chinese film to American theaters. The movie, called Light Pillar, is the first feature from director and writer Xu Zao. It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in a special program that showcases fresh voices from around the world. After its debut, the film will be shown in theaters across the United States next year. Light Pillar is a mix of hand‑drawn animation and live‑action footage. The story follows Zha, a janitor who works at an abandoned film studio that has gone out of business. He escapes into a virtual world where he falls in love online and dreams about traveling to the Moon. When his digital adventure crashes, the old studio’s ruins become the set for a science‑fiction film. The live‑action parts of the movie feature veteran actor Da Peng, who also helped produce the film.The team behind Light Pillar hopes that its blend of humor and warmth will resonate with U. S. viewers. Xu Zao and producer Lu Xiaowei say the film’s title, Old New East West Film Studios, invites everyone who loves dreaming big to come along. The deal that brings the film to America was announced at a major film market in Cannes, where Greenwich’s representative worked with the filmmakers’ agent. Greenwich has recently released other titles such as The Critic, starring Ian McKellen, and Bonjour Tristesse. They also plan to bring the animated film Jinsei to U. S. audiences.